Driving in Nepal vs. Serbia: Key Differences Uncovered
When navigating the roads of Nepal and Serbia, drivers encounter distinct regulations that significantly impact their safety and experience. From varying speed limits to lane usage, understanding these contrasts is essential for a secure journey. While Nepal drives on the left, Serbia adheres to the right; this fundamental divergence shapes the overall driving culture in each nation.
Lanes
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
serbia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
serbia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
serbia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
serbia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
serbia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
serbia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
nepal:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
serbia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Nepali and English | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
serbia:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
serbia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay